I had no idea what to expect when I popped "Red Hands Black Deeds" by the US hard rockers Shaman’s Harvest, but I was uterly impressed and blown away by this wicked 12-track record of theirs. These fuckers are quite clearly inspired by Southern rock in general as well as giants of old such as Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, Free, ZZ Top, and the likes.

 

Come to think of it, Shaman’s Harvest remind me of the ever-awesome Blackberry Smoke in places and there are definitely similarities between the two of them, most notably that haunting and resonating sense of melancholy that both of them incorporate into their tunes. With a wonderfully raw and organic production to boost, "Red Hands Black Deeds" is a dream come true for any lover of quality rock music.

 

"A Longer View" and "Long Way Home" are deeply moving and vibrant affairs while the insanely memorable "The Come Up", the ridiculously groovy "Soul Crusher", and the wildly energetic "Off the Tracks" are uplifting and life-affirming compositions. The album has a lot of light and shade to it, which is its greatest strength (apart from the strong and solid songwriting, obviously). I love the dynamics and diversity of the whole thing. Every song more or less has its own identity, which is a feat in and of itself.